The Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 11 after a messy 3-2 win over Harvard University on Friday night.

Although both teams had 10 shots in the first period, the Bobcats dominated the period offensively. Six minutes and thirty seconds into the period, the puck landed on the stick of freshman Brayden Sherbinin (Kelowna, British Columbia), who scored on a very open left side of the net.

This was the Bobcats’ first shot of the game, as well as the first shot and goal of Sherbinin’s career. He was moved from defense to forward for this game.

Five and a half minutes later, senior Cory Hibbeler (St. Charles, Mo.) tipped home a drive from freshman Devon Toews (Abbotsford, British Columbia) for the his second goal of the season, bringing the Bobcats up 2-0.

The second period took a different turn. While the Bobcats outshot the Crimson 15-5, the Crimson scored the only goal of the period.

Kellen Jones received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for facemasking, which gave Harvard a man advantage. With that advantage, Kyle Criscuolo scored his fourth goal of the year and put the Crimson within one goal of the Bobcats. Harvard has scored a power-play goal in the team’s last three games.

The third period started in favor of the Bobcats. Junior Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, Conn.) quickly scored his sixth goal of the year, giving Quinnipiac a 3-1 lead.

Yet Harvard was not done scoring. On a delayed penalty, Harvard pulled its goaltender, for an extra attacker. From a scramble in front of the net, Jimmy Vesey punched the puck in and brought Harvard again within one goal.

Near the end of the third period, Harvard had one last opportunity. With an extra attacker on the ice, Luke Esposito received a pass from the opposite side but whiffed on a wide open net, sealing the deal for the final score of 3-2.

Pecknold was unhappy with the team’s defensive performance.

“Our D core really struggled,” Pecknold said. “We basically had two defensemen that played well and four that stunk.”

This was clear in the third period, when Harvard out shot Quinnipiac 18-8.

“That’s the worst game we’ve played this year,” Pecknold said. “Harvard deserved to win the game.”

Sophomore goaltender Michael Garteig (Prince George, British Colombia) shared this sentiment.

“I don’t think we came out ready,” Garteig said. “I don’t think we were ready for what they had.”

The Bobcats play Dartmouth University on Saturday, Nov. 16, to wrap up a two-game weekend at home.

Check out the Q30 Sports Update:

[youtube id=”jOxVS67wc_A” width=”620″ height=”360″]